This archive report was first published on 7 September 2019.
On September 10th, we will observe World Suicide Prevention Day, a day to reflect on the impact of mental ill-health on our population and the collective responsibility we share in preventing suicide.
According to President Uhuru Kenyatta's Madaraka Day address on June 1st, the problems of suicide, substance abuse, and other mental disorders must be addressed as a priority. Globally, over 800,000 people die by suicide every year, and in Kenya, community-based surveys have reported high rates of suicidal behavior.
A study conducted in western Kenya found that about one in six people had ever attempted to kill themselves, and it is likely that this pattern is replicated elsewhere in the country, particularly in larger cities.
There are misconceptions about suicide that fuel the stigma surrounding it. For instance, many people fear discussing suicide with someone they think is mentally unwell, believing that it will escalate the risk of the person going ahead with the plan. However, discussing suicidal ideation and the reasons behind it can actually reduce the risk of suicide.
Many people who die by suicide have seen a health practitioner in the weeks preceding the suicide, but the difference between those who go ahead and kill themselves and those who do not is that a health worker discussed thoughts of suicide with the patient.
As we contemplate strategies to prevent suicide, the message is clear: we need to talk more about our inner world of thinking and feeling, and we need to be more caring towards our friends and relatives who are going through tough times.
Lukoye Atwoli, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Former Dean, Moi University School of Medicine, emphasizes the importance of a more compassionate world in preventing suicide.
